Seal of the United States CongressI did not realize that it has been a few months since I did a Numismatic Legislation Review. It is time to look back at the past months of Congress meddling with coin designs.

December 2019 Numismatic Legislation Review

The first piece of legislation is a lesson in why watching Congress is not for the faint of heart!

H.R 1865, sponsored by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), started as the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act. Its original purpose was to create a three-coin commemorative coin program for the National Law Enforcement Museum in the District of Columbia in 2021. From the time it was submitted until passage by the Senate on November 12, 2019, it was just another commemorative coin bill.

Then the sausage-making process began.

It starts with the necessity to fund the government. With time running out, the House of Representatives sends a message to the Senate that they have a resolution to start the funding process. The Senate objects to the House’s actions and looks around for something so they can add funding amendments.

Although H.R. 1865 passed in the Senate, the bill did not go to a conference committee to resolve differences. It became a convenient vehicle for the two chambers to negotiate a budget.

By the time the bill passed Congress, it was renamed to the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, and the provisions for the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act became “Division K” of the signed law.

The following is the unedited status of what is now Public Law No. 116-94 (there is more below this section):

H.R. 1865: Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020
Sponsor: Rep. William J. Pascrell (D-NJ)
Introduced: March 25, 2019
Summary: This bill provides FY2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies.It includes 8 of the 12 regular FY2020 appropriations bills:

  • the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
  • the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
  • the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
  • the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
  • the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2020;
  • the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
  • the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020; and
  • the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020.

In addition to providing appropriations, the bill includes legislation that extends several expiring programs and addresses a wide range of policy issues throughout the federal government.

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. — Mar 25, 2019
Introduced in House — Mar 25, 2019
Mr. Scott, David moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. — Oct 28, 2019
Considered under suspension of the rules. — Oct 28, 2019
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1865. — Oct 28, 2019
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. — Oct 28, 2019
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. — Oct 28, 2019
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. — Oct 28, 2019
Received in the Senate. — Oct 29, 2019
Received in the Senate, read twice. — Oct 29, 2019
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. — Nov 12, 2019
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. — Nov 12, 2019
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. — Nov 12, 2019
Message on Senate action sent to the House. — Nov 13, 2019
ORDER OF BUSINESS – Mr. McGovern asked unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to take from the Speaker’s table the bill H.R. 1865, with the Senate amendment thereto, and to consider in the House, without intervention of any point of order, a motion offered by the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or her designee that the House concur in the Senate amendment submitted for printing by Representative Lowey of New York in the portion of the Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII; that the Senate amendment and the motion be considered as read; that the motion be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations; that the previous question be considered as ordered on the motion to adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question; and that House Resolution 708 be laid on the table. Objection was heard. — Nov 19, 2019
Motion by Senator McConnell to refer to Senate Committee on Appropriations the House message to accompany H.R. 1865 with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 1260) made in Senate. — Dec 17, 2019
Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 with an amendment (SA 1258) made in Senate. — Dec 17, 2019
Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 presented in Senate. — Dec 17, 2019
Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 made in Senate. — Dec 17, 2019
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. — Dec 17, 2019
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment. — Dec 17, 2019
Motion by Senator McConnell to refer to Senate Committee on Appropriations the House message to accompany H.R. 1865 with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 1260) made in Senate. (CR S7088) — Dec 17, 2019
Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 with an amendment (SA 1258) made in Senate. (CR S7087) — Dec 17, 2019
Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 presented in Senate. (CR S7087) — Dec 17, 2019
Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 made in Senate. (CR S7087) — Dec 17, 2019
Resolving differences — House actions: On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 297 – 120 (Roll No. 689). — Dec 17, 2019
Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 765, Mrs. Lowey moved to agree in the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 with an amendment consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 116-44. — Dec 17, 2019
Mrs. Lowey moved that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment. — Dec 17, 2019
DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment, with an amendment to the bill H.R. 1865. — Dec 17, 2019
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. — Dec 17, 2019
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the motion to agree to the Senate amendment with an amendment, the Chair put the question on the motion and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Granger demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the motion until a time to be announced. — Dec 17, 2019
On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 297 – 120 (Roll no. 689). — Dec 17, 2019
On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 297 – 120 (Roll No. 689). — Dec 17, 2019
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. — Dec 17, 2019
Pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 82, enrollment corrections on H.R. 1865 have been made. — Dec 17, 2019
Message on Senate action sent to the House. — Dec 19, 2019
Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 by Yea-Nay Vote. 71 – 23. Record Vote Number: 415. — Dec 19, 2019
Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to the measure (the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865) agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 64 – 30. Record Vote Number: 414. — Dec 19, 2019
Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 with an amendment (SA 1258) withdrawn in Senate by Unanimous Consent. — Dec 19, 2019
Point of order that the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 violates section 3101(b) of S.Con.Res. 11, 114th Congress, raised in Senate. — Dec 19, 2019
Motion by Senator McConnell to refer to Senate Committee on Appropriations the House message to accompany H.R. 1865 with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 1260) fell when cloture invoked on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 in Senate. — Dec 19, 2019
Cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.1865 invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 71 – 21. Record Vote Number: 413. — Dec 19, 2019
Considered by Senate. — Dec 19, 2019
Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to the measure (the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865) agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 64 – 30. Record Vote Number: 414. (CR S7186) — Dec 19, 2019
Cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.1865 invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 71 – 21. Record Vote Number: 413. (CR S7175) — Dec 19, 2019
Resolving differences — Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865 by Yea-Nay Vote. 71 – 23. Record Vote Number: 415. — Dec 19, 2019
Presented to President. — Dec 20, 2019
Signed by President. — Dec 20, 2019
Became Public Law No: 116-94. — Dec 20, 2019
This law can be viewed at http://bit.ly/116-HR1865.

For good measure, Rep. Steve Watkins (R-KS) introduced the Conan Commemorative Coin Act to honor Conan, a Belgian Malinois who has worked with the United States Special Operations Forces in the Middle East. If passed, the money will be given to the Department of Veterans Affairs to support vetinary care for service animals.

H.R. 5537: Conan Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Steve Watkins (R-KS)
Introduced: December 23, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. — Dec 23, 2019
Introduced in House — Dec 23, 2019
This bill can be tracked at http://bit.ly/116-HR5537.

January 2020 Numismatic Legislation Review

In January, Congress passed the President George H.W. Bush and First Spouse Barbara Bush Coin Act to extend the Presidential Dollar and First Spouse Gold coin programs to include the late President and First Lady. The law requires the coin to be issued in 2020.

S. 457: President George H.W. Bush and First Spouse Barbara Bush Coin Act
Sponsor: Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
Introduced: February 12, 2019
Summary: President George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush Coin Act
This bill requires the issuance of

  • $1 coins bearing the image of President George H.W. Bush for a one-year period beginning on January 1, 2019, and
  • bullion coins bearing the image of Barbara Bush during that same period.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. — Feb 12, 2019
Introduced in Senate — Feb 12, 2019
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. — Dec 16, 2019
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. — Dec 16, 2019
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. — Dec 16, 2019
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. — Dec 16, 2019
Message on Senate action sent to the House. — Dec 17, 2019
Received in the House. — Dec 17, 2019
Held at the desk. — Dec 17, 2019
Ms. Waters moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. — Jan 13, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. — Jan 13, 2020
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 457. — Jan 13, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. — Jan 13, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. — Jan 13, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. — Jan 13, 2020
Presented to President. — Jan 16, 2020
Signed by President. — Jan 27, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-112. — Jan 27, 2020
This law can be viewed at http://bit.ly/116-S457.

February 2020 Numismatic Legislation Review

Finally, in February, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) introduced the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act. Even though Tubman was born in 1820, the bill calls for a three-coin commemorative program in 2022 to celebrate 200 years since her birth. If passed, the money raised from this program will be paid to the Project Legacy of Brooklyn, NY, to advance its mission.

H.R. 5873: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY)
Introduced: February 12, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. — Feb 12, 2020
Introduced in House — Feb 12, 2020
This bill can be tracked at http://bit.ly/116-HR5873.

And with that, we are all caught up!

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